To help people gain insight into their illness as well as function better in everyday life, including socially, at work, and with family and friends

Cognitive behavioral therapy: Focuses on thinking and behavior

Psychosocial rehabilitation: Helps with everyday living skills, housing, social skills, education, work

Self-help groups: Provide support from other people who have the illness and their families

Studies show that psychosocial therapy can lead to greater medication compliance. It can also help people deal with everyday challenges of the illness, such as functioning at work, managing self-care, and forming relationships.

None

Conventional, or "typical," antipsychotics

To reduce and prevent psychotic symptoms

Etrafon

Haldol

Prolixin

Thorazine

Typical antipsychotics have been shown to greatly reduce psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Side effects can include neurological and movement problems, such as tardive dyskinesia—a potentially chronic and untreatable movement disorder. This can lead to rigidity, persistent muscle spasms, tremors, and more.

Second-generation, or "atypical," antipsychotics

To reduce and prevent psychotic symptoms

Abilify

Clozaril

Geodon

Risperdal

Saphris

Seroquel

Zyprexa

Some atypical antipsychotics are thought to be more effective than typical antipsychotics at controlling psychotic symptoms, especially "negative" symptoms such as emotional flatness. They're also much less likely to cause movement problems.

Atypical antipsychotics may cause major weight gain and changes in blood sugar or blood lipids. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of developing diabetes and cardiovascular illness.

Clozaril, considered the most effective antipsychotic medication, can cause a problem called agranulocytosis. This involves a severe reduction in white blood cells, which help fight infection. People taking the drug must have their white blood cell count checked regularly. Other types of atypical antipsychotics very rarely cause agranulocytosis.

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics, or depot injections

To reduce and prevent psychotic symptoms without the need for daily medication

Typical antipsychotics:

Haldol

Prolixin

Atypical antipsychotics:

Zyprexa

Invega

Risperdal

Research shows that depot injections can greatly increase medication compliance. Injections are given once or twice a month. People have commonly reported preferring depot injections over pills after trying both.

Risks are generally the same as the medication in pill form. These may include restlessness, weight gain, and more.